The Chemical History of a Candle

Michael Faraday
With an Introduction by Frank A. J. L. James and Foreword by David Phillips

Publication coincides with the 150th anniversary of the first publication in 1851

The only edition to feature a facsimile of Michael Faraday's fascinating original lecture notes, in his own elegant hand

Includes an introduction from Frank A.J.L. James, one of the world's leading Faraday scholars

Provides the historial context and background of Faraday

The Chemical History of a Candle

Michael Faraday
With an Introduction by Frank A. J. L. James and Foreword by David Phillips

Description

Michael Faraday's celebrated series of lectures, The Chemical History of a Candle, became one of the most successful science books ever published and was a classic work of Victorian popular science. They highlight how Faraday--the bookbinder's apprentice turned scientist--was a remarkable communicator of science. First published in 1861, these engaging lectures have remained in print ever since. Covering a wide range of basic scientific knowledge, The Chemical History of a Candle draws out the science behind the candle flame--a familiar yet complex example of combustion, and a source of fascination as much today as it was then. Timed to mark the 150th anniversary of the first publication, Frank James presents a new edition of the lectures, which, for the first time,
includes a facsimile of Faraday's original handwritten lecture notes, never before published. Including an introduction from Frank James, one of the world's leading Faraday scholars, this new edition provides fascinating historical background to these lectures, and to Faraday himself.

The Chemical History of a Candle

Michael Faraday
With an Introduction by Frank A. J. L. James and Foreword by David Phillips

Table of Contents

Foreword, David Phillips, Professor Emeritus, Imperial College London and President, Royal Society of ChemistryAcknowledgementsIntroduction, Frank A.J.L JamesNote on the Published TextThe TextNote on the FacsimileThe Facsimile

The Chemical History of a Candle

Michael Faraday
With an Introduction by Frank A. J. L. James and Foreword by David Phillips

Author Information

Frank A. J. L. James is Professor of the History of Science at the Royal Institution. He is editor of the Correspondence of Michael Faraday, of which five volumes (out of six) have been published.

The Chemical History of a Candle

Michael Faraday
With an Introduction by Frank A. J. L. James and Foreword by David Phillips

From Our Blog

By Frank James
I have been pondering these questions recently in the course of researching and writing the biographical memoir for the British Academy of the distinguished and influential historians of science Rupert Hall (1920-2009) and his wife Marie Boas Hall (1919-2009). Before the 1939-1945 war history of science was practiced almost exclusively by scientists of one form or another such as Charles Singer (1876-1960) in England and George Sarton (1884'1956) in the United States.